A new program in three of the biggest counties in and around New York City aims to keep combat veterans out of jail if they break the law in non-violent ways.  District Attorneys in Kings, Queens and Nassau Counties have linked with the Veterans Affairs Administration, offering an alternative to veteran offenders who are deemed not to be a threat to the community. 

"These people deserve our best efforts to integrate them back into society and not have them fall into what's been described as the black hole of the criminal justice system..." says Jonathan Lippman, the Chief Judge of New York State. 

Nassau D.A. Kathleen Rice says "When we need them most they are there with unwavering courage and when they return we must be there for them with the same steadfast support they so desperately deserve."

Non-violent offenders who saw combat in Iraq or Afghanistan can get mental health counseling, substance abuse services, even housing if they're homeless and if they complete the program their record could be wiped clean.

The program's architects offered no statistics suggesting combat veterans are any more likely to commit crimes than non-servicemembers and they say they've seen no spike in veterans breaking laws, but say they just want to be sure anyone who's served their country and has issues readjusting gets the help they need.